Y Mountain Summit Trail

The Trail
This difficult trail is about 3.5 miles long (one way) with a 3406 foot elevation change. There is also a much shorter and quite popular option along this route of hiking just to the white letter Y on the side of the mountain, which is about 1.2 miles to the top, with just over a 1000 foot elevation change.

Topographical Map (blue=trail to summit; red=maple flat trail
green=dead end trail)

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

The beginning of this trail is very well maintained. It is wide and well used as it goes up to the Y. Signs along the way detail little facts about plants and animals in the area and details about the history of the Y. This part of the trail is not particularly interesting. All the interest comes from views of the valley below. While the trail is shaded first thing in the morning due to the fact that it falls on the west side of the mountain, it gets full sun the rest of the day. There is a picnic area half way up the letter Y itself, and there is a section of trail going just above the top of the Y with benches to rest on while enjoying the view.

View looking south from top of the Y

View looking west from top of the Y

 If the Y was your goal, you can hike back down from here. However, if you want to continue to the top, take the narrower trail that continues upward just south of the Y.

The trail heads across the face of the mountain before reaching some interesting rocks, including a unique one that sticks out and is apparently sometimes referred to as "Mouse Rock." After this point, The trail turns east to head up Slide Canyon.

Approaching "Mouse Rock"

Looking up Slide Canyon

Soon after passing "Mouse Rock", there is a short turn off to an outcropping rock that overlooks Slide Canyon and Utah Valley beyond. This rock is about 1.6 miles up from the beginning of the trail.

View of Slide Canyon from outcropping rock

View of "Mouse Rock" from
outcropping rock

The trail continues to climb up slide canyon another 0.8 mile (2.4 miles from the trailhead), at which point it comes to Bear Flat. This meadow offers a good camping spot to backpackers. The brush here is quite tall during the summer, and at this point you will start to see stinging nettle along the trail. The dense brush here and in other places along the trail has stinging nettle in its mix, so wearing pants while hiking is recommended. Right after reaching the meadow, there is a trail that breaks off to the south past a camping spot. A portion of this trail is shown in red in the topographical map above, and it leads to Maple Flat. For anyone interested in getting to the top of Maple Mountain (the mountain just south of Y Mountain), this is the trail you take. It does not go all the way to the top, but you can find information on the route to the top here.

Bear Flat - during summer this meadow is full of tall
wildflowers like lupines and mint. There is also a good amount
of stinging nettle growing here

Camping spot at Bear Flat

Soon after leaving Bear Flat, hikers will come to a split in the trail. Continuing straight will take you farther up Slide Canyon. To go to the top of Y Mountain, turn off to the left. This turn is marked by some carvings on the trunk of an Aspen at this intersection.

The "Y" with the arrow marks the way
to follow to summit Y Mountain.
The newly carved "P" for
Provo Peak continues straight.

The trail's already rigorous incline increases to an even more arduous assent as the trail heads through a forested area and then opens up again into a steep meadow. If you look behind you as you climb up this meadow, you will see Provo Peak off in the distance.

Provo Peak to the back left

This meadow is once again full of tall stinging nettle and other chest high plants. After crossing the meadow, you will reach the ridge and start to catch glimpses of the view from the top.

View of Mount Timpanogos and Squaw Peak from the ridge

Continue just a bit farther and the views of the valley open up more from the top.

View from the top looking south

View from the top looking northwest

Technically, this trail does not go to the true summit of Y Mountain, which is the peak to the northeast of where this trail ends. This other peak is just a bit higher than the peak closer to the valley. We wondered if there was a less used trail to this peak too, but couldn't find one. We tried following a faint trail heading roughly toward the highest peak at the ridge (in green on the maps above), but found that this trail disappeared as it approached more trees. Being unsure if this was the best way to continue up to the other peak, and being short on time, we decided to not continue. It appeared to us that this route to the top looked pretty rough at best, and there are probably better approaches. However, they also probably involve making your way through the dense tangle of tall brush in the meadow without the aid of a trail.

This trail is open to leashed pets. There are bathrooms at the trailhead.

Directions
This trail is located in Utah County in Provo. To get there, from I-15 take Exit 265 for Center Street in Provo. Turn left onto 500 East and then turn right onto 500 North. Next turn left onto 700 East and then right onto 700 North. At 1200 East, turn left, then take the next right onto 820 North. This road will curve around, becoming Oakmont Ln. Turn right on Oakcliff Dr. and then right again onto Terrace Dr. Turn left again when the road turns (going straight will take you into a parking area), and continue up the road, which will pass another parking area, curve around and then straighten out before arriving at the trailhead parking area. GPS Coordinates: N40 14.697 W111 37.638